Baby bed structure



Dec. 13, 1960 H. G. COLE 2,963,712

BABY BED STRUCTURE Filed July 26, 1957 75 zig 6 I m G A I 1 INVENTOR.

. v vi i United States Patent 2,953,712 Patented Dec. E3, 1950 iee BABY BED STRUCTURE Harry G. "Cole, 2613 Arvin St., Wheaten, Md.

Filed July 26, 1957, Ser. No. 674,340

2 Claims. (Cl. -186) This invention pertains generally to bed structures and particularly to beds for the accommodation of infants.

Bed structures or cribs now commonly used for the accommodation of small babies usually include a supporting frame, a mattress entirely covering the same and the usual sheet and bed clothing. In the case of an extremely young baby, it sometimes occurs that in its sleep the babys nose contacts the mattress so as to shut off its breathing, often resulting in the death of the baby. An important object of the present invention is to construct a bed in suchmanner that the supporting mattress may be dispensed with, at the same time 'to provide an adequate support for the baby of-more or less porous nature so that air may pass freely through the-structure and thus obviate suffocation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baby bed wherein the structure is such that the supporting structure which is a substitute for the commonly used mattress may be readily and easily detached from the bed structure for washing or renovating purposes, and may with equal facility be replaced with a fresh supporting structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bed structure wherein the sheet for the support of the baby is at all times maintained properly in a tensioned position, the weight of the baby being utilized to lock the elements of the structure with the supporting sheet thus tensioned.

With the foregoing objects in View, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel constructed, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bed structure constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the parts in the position they will assume when the bed is in operative position,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the parts in the position they will assume when it is desired to remove the supporting sheet, and

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary view showing the means for locking the supporting sheet to the side members.

The bed structure of my invention may be made up as the ordinary infants or childs bed constituting head and foot boards and supporting legs, or it may be made in the form of a light rectangular frame either to be placed within a standard crib, upon an ordinary bed or upon the floor, or may be conveniently placed within a motor vehicle for the accommodation of the infant in travelling. The present illustration discloses the inventive idea embodied in a light sufficiently strong frame made either of Wood or of metal, comprising spaced parallel side rails 5 of suitable length, connected at their ends by head and foot boards 6 and 7, respectively. These end boards are parallel with one another as usual and are of a height so as to extend above the top level of the side rails'or boards 5. Arranged upon'the inner face of each of the-headand foot boards are a pair of laterally divergent 1evers 8 and 9, the former of which is pivoted at its inner end as at It? to the adjacent head or foot board above the horizontal plane of the tops of the side rails 5 and outwardly slightly from the vertical median line of the head or foot board. The levers 8 are of such length as when swung in downward position as shown in Fig. 2 their ends will overlie and rest upon the side rails 5. The outer ends of these levers are connected by a hollow tube, preferably in the form of a cylinder indicated at 11. This tube is provided in its outer surface with a longitudinally disposed slot 12 for apurpose to be later described.

The second levers 9 are of a length similar to that of the levers 8 and are pivoted at their inner ends as at 13 to the upper end of a link 14 pivoted as 211115 to the adjacent end member below the horizontal plane of the top edges of the side rails 5. The outer ends of the levers 9 at each end of the frame are connected by a hollow tube '16 similar to the tube 11 and provided in its outermost periphery with a longitudinal slot similar to that in the tube connecting the opposite levers. The length of the link 14 is such that the pivot 13 at the upper end thereof is normally disposed in the same horizontal plane with the pivot 10 of the companion lever, and the length of the levers 8 and 9 is such that the tubular members overlie and rest upon the upper edges of the side rails 5 when the levers are swung to downward position as shown in Fig. 2. A contractile spring 17 is connected at one end to the link 14 and is anchored by a suitable screw 18 at its opposite end to the adjacent and member below the upper edge of the side rails 5. A stop 19 in the adjacent end member limits the swinging movement of the link 14.

The supporting element for the infant is a fabric sheet indicated at 20. This sheet may be closely woven if desired or may be more or less foraminous with open meshes in order to allow free passage of air therethrough. This supporting sheet is provided at its longitudinal edges with a fold 21 containing a cord or enlargement 22 extending throughout the length thereof, the combined diameters of the fold and cord being greater than the breadth of the slot 12. The slots 12 in the tubes 11 and 16 are open at their ends so that the fold and cord 21-22 may be passed to the interior of the tubes and anchored therein throughout the length of the latter. The width of the sheet or fabric is such that when the levers are in the lowered position as shown in Fig. 2, it will be stretched tightly between the spaced parallel tubes 11-16 thus forming a firm supporting surface for the infant. It will be observed that when in the expanded or lowered position, the sheet lies below the pivots 10-13, thus locking these levers against any tendency to move upwardly at all times while the sheet is supporting the infant.

When it is desired to remove the sheet for cleaning or replacement, it is but necessary to move the rods or tubes 1116 in an upward direction until they pass beyond the horizontal plane of the pivots 1l313, whereupon they may move to the position shown in Fig. 3, at which time the edges of the sheet may be removed from the hollow tubes for the purposes described.

In order to insure against sagging of the extremities of the supporting fabric when subjected to the Weight of the child, hooks 3 5 may be arranged at the edge of the fabric either for engagement with the levers 8-9, or in eyelets carried by the head or foot members of the bed, or the ends of the fabric may be provided with a hem supplied with a stifiening element for achieving this end.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a baby crib capable of accomplishing the various objects set forth and it will prove highly efficient in practice. The construction and arrangement of parts is such that it may be easily constructed and assembled at a minimum of cost without detracting from the practicability of the device or detrimentally affecting its eflieiency. Iclaim:" g t 1. In a bed structure, a rectangular frame comprising parallel sides-and parallel head and foot members, a first lever pivoted at its inner end to each of said head and foot members upon one side of the vertical median line thereof and above the top plane of said side members, said levers each being of a length to rest at its opposite end upon the adjacent upper edge of said side members, a tubular member connecting the said opposite ends of said levers, a link pivoted at its lower end to each of said head and foot members upon the opposite side of said median lines and having their opposite ends normally disposed in the same horizontal plane with the pivots of said first levers, a second lever pivoted 'at its inner end to each of said links at the upper ends thereof and being of a length substantially equal to said first levers, a tubular member connecting the outer ends of said second levers, said tubular members overlying and resting upon said side members when said levers are moved to their outward swinginglimits, means for securing fabric ends to said tubular members, a contractile spring connecting each link to its respective member to normally urge said links towardan adjacent side member, and stops to limit said movement.

2. In a bed structure, a rectangular frame comprising parallel sides and parallel head and foot members, a first lever pivoted at its inner end to each of said head and foot members upon one side of the vertical median line thereof and above the top plane of said side members, said levers being each of a length to rest at its opposite end upon the adjacent upper edge of said side member, a

tubular member connecting said opposite ends of said levers, a pivoted at its lower end to each of said head and foot members on the opposite side of said median lines and having their opposite ends normally disposed in the same horizontal plane with the pivots of said first levers, a second lever pivoted at its inner end to each of said links at the upper ends thereof and being of a length substantially equal to said first-levers, a tubular member connecting the 'outer ends of said second levers, said tubular members overlying "andres ting upon said side members when said levers'are moved to their "outward swinging limits, said tubular members each having a slot extending throughout the length thereof, a fabric of a width substantially equal 'to the" transverse dimension of said frame, cords in the longitudinal edges of said fabric of greater diameter than the breadth of said slots and disposed within said tubular members from the ends thereof with the fabrieextending through said slots, a contractile spring connecting each link to its respectivemember to normally urge said links toward an' adjacent side member and means on said head and foot members for supporting the transverse edges of said fabric.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ewing Mar. :24, 1953 

